Fabricio Coloccini has been linked with a move to Crystal Palace to meet up with his former boss Alan Pardew, according to ESPN.

The 33-year-old has been at St James's Park for the last eight seasons, but five of those were under Pardew, and as he enters the last year of his contract, there is a chance the former Deportivo La Coruna man's time at the club is coming to an end.

Coloccini would be the first to admit that he didn't have the best of times last season, with Newcastle going on a woeful run at the end of the season that nearly saw them relegated, but none of the players at the club were helped by injury problems, a squad lacking quality in key areas, and John Carver's inability to galvanise the players.

However, ESPN say Palace are interested in the player as a trusted alternative to more expensive options to boost the central defensive areas.

Cherry picking Newcastle heroes?

Back when Pardew was in charge of the Magpies, Coloccini was a star for the club in defence, as captain of the side and organiser at the back. Alongside midfielder Yohan Cabaye, the Argentine is probably one of the best players to have played for Newcastle over the last 10 years.

Palace have already recruited the French international from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, a deal that is widely championed by supporters, and though he is a little older than his former teammate, Coloccini would clearly still have something to offer the Premier League, especially under his former boss.

Whether Steve McClaren would be open to a deal may be one of the key factors as to whether this would be a transfer that could happen or not, but the former Middlesbrough boss has already left doubts about whether the defender will still be captaining the side under his reign.

The Magpies boss has been getting by without the Argentine during his pre-season tour of the US, while with Steven Taylor's return from injury, McClaren is getting a player that he once called up for England duty and almost certainly rates very highly.

Che Thomas

Che is an Englishman abroad unable to cut the apron strings tying him to the crazy world of English football. As a writer and freelance journalist, he has covered matches and cultural events from across the globe all with the intention to inform, entertain and provoke debate. Just as smitten with music, film, and photography, though fully aware of the fact that nothing takes the place of that Saturday afternoon excitement down at N17 (even when it's actually on a Sunday!)